Tools

Seattle Weekly has called Zoe Muth that city's version of Emmylou Harris. It's high praise, but quizzical because of the Pacific Northwest's history of producing singer/songwriters with more of an affinity for distorted guitars and an angsty lyrical approach. Muth was raised on old-school rock, but discovered the "Anthology of American Folk Music" in high school. The rural narratives and down-home twang of artists such as Chubby Parker and Buell Kazee spoke to her and heavily influenced her own songwriting style. Before long, Zoe managed to procure a solid set of backing musicians and started making records. The latest of which, this summer's "Old Gold," is another installment of honest and passionate "retro-country" music.